He was told to “go and wash” in the river Jordan seven times, and he was not happy (2 Kings 5:1-14). Naaman had come with expectations shaped by power, status, and success. As commander of the Syrian army, he was accustomed to honor, strategy, and control. Leprosy had already wounded his body, but the instruction he received from the prophet struck at something deeper—his pride. The Jordan River was unimpressive, the command was simple, and the process felt beneath him. What God required did not match what Naaman imagined healing should look like.
Naaman’s anger reveals how difficult obedience can be when God’s instructions challenge our assumptions. He expected a dramatic moment, a prophetic display, or a method that reflected his importance. Instead, he was told to do something ordinary, repetitive, and humbling. The Jordan represented submission, not sophistication. Yet the number seven, symbolizing completeness, meant Naaman could not partially obey. Healing would not come through negotiation or revision, but through full surrender. God was not only addressing his disease; He was reshaping his heart.
Many of us struggle in similar ways. When God’s direction feels too simple, too slow, or too humbling, we are tempted to resist. We want solutions that feel powerful and immediate. We want answers that affirm our competence and control. However, God often chooses methods that strip away self-reliance so that faith can grow. Like Naaman, we are sometimes offended not by what God asks us to do, but by how He asks us to do it.
Naaman’s healing came when he listened to wiser voices and obeyed fully (v. 13). When he stepped into the water the seventh time, his skin was restored, but more importantly, his perspective was transformed. The muddy river became a place of renewal because obedience met grace there. Today, God still works through humble steps and repeated faithfulness. The miracle may not come through impressive means, but through trusting Him enough to do what He says, even when it feels uncomfortable. What looks like muddy water may be the very place where God restores us completely. May God teach us to believe that His grace meets us in obedience and that He is faithful to restore what is broken.
